BATTLE lines were drawn last night between Real Madrid and Tottenham in the tug-of-war for Gareth Bale, as a leading source said Real have all the cash they need to snatch him from White Hart Lane.

Bale’s match-winning display against West Ham on Monday again made him the centre of attention all over Europe and former Real president Ramon Calderon, still a high-profile figure around the Bernabeu, was quick to lay down a marker for a player valued in the region of £70million.

Bale, 23, has long been linked with a summer move to Madrid and although Tottenham chief executive Daniel Levy held them up for 12 months over the signing of Luka Modric, Calderon insisted they have the financial muscle this time to force a deal through.

Calderon said: “It’s true we have spent a lot of money in the last three or four years but we are in a position to pay the money they are going to ask for.

“There is always a limit but Real Madrid is in a very healthy situation, economically speaking, so we would be in the position to sign him.

“I’m sure it will be a high amount of money because he is a fantastic player. A lot of clubs would like to have him.

“He is one of those players you would always like to have in your team.”

Tottenham yesterday refused to get drawn into a war of words, although manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted it will be hard to keep him at the club – especially if they fail to secure Champions League football next season.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted it will be hard to keep him at the club

There is always a limit but Real Madrid is in a very healthy situation, economically speaking, so we would be in the position to sign him

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon

Having finally sold out over Modric to the tune of £35m – hardly a bargain as the Croatia international has struggled to settle in Spain – Levy will expect double that at least if Bale is to be released from the remaining three years of the contract he signed last summer.

Real’s interest comes as talks over a new deal for Cristiano Ronaldo appear to be stalling, persuading current president Fiorentino Perez to consider other options.

Bale has made no secret of his desire to play abroad at some point in his career.

Speaking earlier this season after leading Tottenham out at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome against Lazio, he said: “It would be nice to experience other leagues and other cultures.

“I have always said that I am not afraid to go abroad.

“If the time comes and a team that is right comes in for me, then I will look at it seriously. I will see what happens.”